Where Santa Monica shops, snacks and lunches: the markets worth your morning.
Food markets, farmers markets and covered halls: where Santa Monica shops, snacks and lunches.
The Santa Monica Wednesday Farmers Market has filled Arizona Avenue since 1981, with 60-plus California farms supplying half of LA's serious kitchens.
Go for: Farm produce, Chef spotting, Stone fruit
Tip: Chefs clear the rare stuff before 09:00; carry cash for the small stands and watch for restaurant carts doing rounds.
The Saturday Downtown Farmers Market runs 40-plus stands on Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica with the highest share of certified organic growers in town.
Go for: Certified organic, Weekly shop, Flowers
Tip: This is the organics-heavy sibling of the Wednesday market, running since 1991; EBT and Cal Fresh are accepted.
The Main Street Farmers Market turns the Victorian's block in Santa Monica into a Sunday ritual, 40 farms plus prepared food, music and kids' rides.
Go for: Sunday brunch graze, Families, Prepared food
Tip: This is the one with breakfast: come hungry, graze the prepared-food stalls and let the kids at the activity corner.
The Pico Farmers Market gathers around 35 California farms at Virginia Avenue Park in Santa Monica, the neighbourhood Saturday market with Market Match.
Go for: Market Match, Families, Neighbourhood shop
Tip: Market Match doubles CalFresh EBT spending on produce; free parking and the playground make it the easy family stop.
Santa Monica Seafood has sold fish since 1939 and its Wilshire Boulevard market pairs a retail counter with an oyster-and-chowder cafe in the aisles.
Go for: Fresh fish, Oyster bar lunch, Chowder
Tip: Eat at the cafe counter, then buy what you liked from the ice case to cook at home; the market runs an hour before close.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Co-opportunity Market is LA County's only organic food co-op, a member-owned Santa Monica grocery on Broadway open to everyone from 07:00 daily.
Go for: Organic grocery, Bulk foods, Picnic supplies
Tip: You do not need a membership to shop; the deli case and bulk aisles are the practical picnic supply run.
Andrew's Cheese Shop has cut artisan wheels to order on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica since 2008, with grilled cheese and monthly pairing nights.
Go for: Cut-to-order cheese, Pairing events, Sandwiches
Tip: The monthly cheese-and-drink pairing events sell out; sign up in the shop and grab a grab-and-go sandwich meanwhile.
Wally's runs a wine shop, cheese counter and restaurant under one Wilshire Boulevard roof in Santa Monica, a by-the-glass list beside the retail wall.
Tip: Anything on the retail wall can be drunk at the table for corkage; the cheese counter builds boards to order.
Lady & Larder builds California cheese boards and stacked deli sandwiches on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, a sister-run shop with serious wine to go.
Tip: Sandwiches like the Hot Girl Salami sell out before 14:00; order boards for pickup a day ahead.
Farmshop pairs a Californian brunch room with an artisan market in the Brentwood Country Mart on 26th Street in Santa Monica, bakery counter from 07:00.
Tip: The market side sells the bakery bread, cheese and prepared food to go when the brunch wait runs long.